My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed-1 Peter 4:12-13
Have you noticed that the stuff that is going on right now actually occurred in the Bible? Even the negative stuff happened already. The Bible is full of “present-current” things. I have always been encouraged by the above Scripture though, for (1) that I am not the first one to go through the trial, someone else has experienced the same trial before (2) That the trial will produce a much greater glory- something positive, something valuable, or something of with a significant impact.
Consider the following if you are in a trial now or when you will get one:
1.God already knows the timing and the intensity of the trial (1Cor 10:13)
2. The trial designed to accomplish a specific purpose to fit the destiny God has for you (Psalm 12:6, 2 Timothy 2;20)
3. Faith will be an instrumental tool for responding to the trial (Heb 11.1)
4. Persevere under the pressure of the trial, your perseverance is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His great power (1 Peter 4:12-13)
5. The trial when handled right will help develop Christlikeness in you (James 1:2-4)
6. The trial when handled correctly will mature us spiritually (Romans 5:3-4, Hebrews 12:7-11, 2 Timothy 2:3-5)
7. God will be with you in the trial – in such times God gives us the grace to endure and go through the trial (2 Corinthians 12:9)
8. By God’s grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit you will overcome the trial (Isaiah 59:19, Zechariah 4:6)
This week, give the trial a switch. FLIP IT OVER, spin it. Consider this, other people have gone through it, God has a timer on it-remember the story of Job, Joseph, even Jesus, consider that God is expanding your capacity to contain a much greater valuable treasure as a result of the same trial !Take courage, God’s got you!